Love Too Late

The guests who attended the banquet were all prominent figures of high social standing.

He introduced me to various dignitaries and powerful individuals. He consistently emphasized my role as his fiancee.

I remained silent throughout. I only wanted to endure this farce as quickly as possible.

Midway through the event, the fundraising auction reached its climax.

The host invited Raymond, who was the event’s organizer, to the stage to complete the donation ceremony.

Seizing the moment, Gemma, who had clearly prepared for this, stepped forward gracefully and took Raymond’s arm.

Raymond glanced at Gemma before speaking to me.

“You’re not accustomed to these formalities. This is a perfect chance for you to observe Gemma and learn how it’s properly done.”

With that, he allowed Gemma to escort him onto the stage to complete the ceremony.

Whispers rose from the audience below.

“Isn’t Cara Mr. Wright’s fiancee? Why is Gemma taking her place?”

“He clearly prefers Gemma. Otherwise, he would have taken his fiancee.”

“Gemma is clearly a better match for Mr. Wright. Cara is far too showy. She doesn’t act like a lady from a good family at all.”

I left without listening further. I turned and retreated to the back garden.

A cool breeze washed over me. I savored this rare moment of freedom.

Here I was free from the exhausting pretense of being a perfect society lady.

Before long, Gemma found me.

She dropped her genteel facade and revealed her true, malicious nature.

“Years ago, your mother couldn’t compete with mine, and it destroyed her. She died of depression. You’re just the same. You’ll never beat me.”

When I heard this, I slapped her across the face and glared coldly at her.

“Don’t you dare speak about my mother. If you do, you will be leaving this place on a stretcher.”

Gemma was totally stunned.

In the past, no matter how she provoked me, I had always endured it.

She never expected me to strike her this time.

Raymond arrived just in time to witness the scene.

Rage filled his eyes as he strode over and grabbed my wrist.

“Cara, what is this? Are you causing trouble again? Striking your own sister? If your father hears of this, you know what the consequences will be.”

Gemma wore a pitiful, teary expression as she threw herself into Raymond’s arms.

“Ray-ray, look at her! Is this how a lady should behave? She struck me! I’m her younger sister!”

I looked at Raymond, whose gaze filled with disappointment.

“She insulted my mother first.”

His expression darkened ominously.

“Apologize to Gemma. As a woman in your position, the future Mrs. Wright, you must show composure. Violence is never acceptable.”

I looked into his cold, indifferent eyes.

“Why would I apologize to her?”

Raymond suppressed his anger and instructed an attendant to take Gemma to treat her injury.

Then, he gripped my chin. His tone was deliberate and sharp. “Because I am your fiance, and I will not allow this. I will teach you a lesson today, or your father will do far worse later. Consider it a lesson to control that temper of yours.”

I looked at him and said in a trembling yet clear voice, “I won’t apologize. I will never be the perfect society wife you want me to be. I was never that polished, proper lady to begin with.”

His eyes burned with fury. His grip on my chin tightened.

“Cara, let me make this clear. You are mine. You will be my wife. And today, I will teach you a proper lesson. You will learn to follow the rules.”

He grabbed my wrist roughly and began dragging me out of the manor.

None of the surrounding guests dared to step forward and intervene.

Suppressing his rage, he shoved me into the car harshly. The atmosphere during the drive was stifling.

He drove furiously fast, venting his anger on the road.

When we returned to his mansion, he pushed me rudely into his study and locked the door behind us.

He pulled a document from a drawer and slammed it onto the desk before me.

“Sign it!”

I looked down and skimmed through it.

It was an agreement for me to renounce all professional work. For the rest of my life, I would only be allowed to support my husband, raise children, and be the respectable Mrs. Wright.

“Raymond, are you insane?”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Insane? You made me this way!”

He loomed over me. His voice dropped to a dangerous growl.

“I’ve given you a life of luxury, a position most women would kill for, yet you keep crossing the line. Sign the papers. Staying here as my wife and behaving yourself is the only good choice you have left.”

His words sent a chill through my entire body.

I looked into his obsessive, frantic eyes and finally understood the truth. The tragedy of my past life was not a random accident.

His version of love was nothing but control.

I could not repeat that same mistake. I had to get away from here, and fast.

I deliberately softened my tone.

“Raymond, let go of me first. I’ll look at the agreement, but you have to give me some time to calm down.”

Raymond stared at me for a long moment, as if he were judging whether I was lying.

In the end, he finally let me go.

He looked at me coldly. “You have three days. If I don’t have a signed agreement by then, there will be consequences.”

I stayed silent as I watched him leave.

Raymond had me confined. No one could approach me except the servant who delivered my meals.

My only recourse was to lull him into lowering his guard. Otherwise, any hope of escape was futile.

Later, I deliberately softened my demeanor toward Raymond. I led him to believe I had truly accepted my situation. I did not even pull away when he fed me a dessert.

Raymond eventually let down his guard. He assumed he had finally tamed me.

I was allowed to go further than just the study and the bedroom. He allowed me to visit the back garden.

I went to the garden every day, searching for an opportunity. At last, I found a dog hole concealed by weeds.

When the moment was right, I escaped through that hole in the back garden wall.

After leaving the mansion, I went straight to the airport, heading to Veridia.